What are your predictions for the upcoming season?
Mine:
Eastern Conference:
1. Detroit Pistons
2. Indiana Pacers
3. Miami Heat
4. New Jersey Nets
5. Milwaukee Bucks
6. New Orleans Hornets
7. Philadelphia 76ers
8. Orlando Magic
9. Cleveland Cavaliers
10. Boston Celtics
11. New York Knicks
12. Toronto Raptors
13. Chicago Bulls
14. Washington Wizards
15. Atlanta Hawks
Western Conference:
1. San Antonio Spurs
2. Minnesota Timberwolves
3. Denver Nuggets
4. Houston Rockets
5. Utah Jazz
6. Dallas Mavericks
7. Sacramento Kings
8. Memphis Grizzlies
9. Phoenix Suns
10. Los Angeles Lakers
11. Los Angeles Clippers
12. Portland Trail Blazers
13. Seattle SuperSonics
14. Golden State Warriors
Of course, this could still change, as Ray Allen could still be traded and Erick Dampier has to play somewhere next year. I think I also fucked up the conferences (isn't New Orleans going to the West {in which case they'd be slotted in around 12} and Charlotte going to the East {in which case they'd be battling the Hawks}?)
Preseason awards and playoff predictions up next!
Now that the NBA is settling down:
Eastern Conference:
1. Detroit Pistons
2. Miami Heat
3. Indiana Pacers
4. New Jersey Nets
5. Cleveland Cavaliers
5. Milwaukee Bucks
6. New Orleans Hornets
7. Philadelphia 76ers
8. Orlando Magic
9. Milwaukee Bucks
10. Boston Celtics
11. New York Knicks
12. Toronto Raptors
13. Chicago Bulls
14. Washington Wizards
15. Atlanta Hawks
Western Conference:
1. San Antonio Spurs
2. Denver Nuggets
3. Minnesota Timberwolves
4. Houston Rockets
5. Phoenix Suns
6. Memphis Grizzlies
7. Sacramento Kings
8. Los Angeles Lakers
9. Dallas Mavericks
10. Utah Jazz
11. Portlant Trail Blazers
12. Los Angeles Clippers
13. Seattle SuperSonics
14. Golden State Warriors
This does not consider the changes that will be done to the leagues etc.
1. Detroit Pistons
2. Miami Heat
3. Indiana Pacers
4. New Jersey Nets
5. Cleveland Cavaliers
5. Milwaukee Bucks
6. New Orleans Hornets
7. Philadelphia 76ers
8. Orlando Magic
9. Milwaukee Bucks
10. Boston Celtics
11. New York Knicks
12. Toronto Raptors
13. Chicago Bulls
14. Washington Wizards
15. Atlanta Hawks
Western Conference:
1. San Antonio Spurs
2. Denver Nuggets
3. Minnesota Timberwolves
4. Houston Rockets
5. Phoenix Suns
6. Memphis Grizzlies
7. Sacramento Kings
8. Los Angeles Lakers
9. Dallas Mavericks
10. Utah Jazz
11. Portlant Trail Blazers
12. Los Angeles Clippers
13. Seattle SuperSonics
14. Golden State Warriors
This does not consider the changes that will be done to the leagues etc.
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Karae
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East:
1. Detroit - Still the best team in the NBA.
2. Miami - Miami took Indiana to 7 without Angry Shaq.
3. Indiana - They didn't get any better.
4-15. Who fucking cares? Eh, I guess I'll throw some names on.
4. New Jersey - Didn't really get anything for Martin, but they're still ahead of the apathetic East - now they're just further behind the legitimate East.
5. New Orleans - Can Mashburn and Davis stay healthy? Probably not, so expect them to finish lower. But if they can, they're a good team.
6. Milwaukee - They're not any better, another first round exit.
7. Philadelphia - One chucker (Iverson), no matter how talented, isn't enough.
Another Race for 8th.
8. Cleveland - They need to find a decent replacement for Boozer. It shouldn't be too hard, let's face it, LeBron is the one that made Boozer worth $68 million anyway.
8. Chicago - Curry is improving by leaps and bounds every season, expect it again. Deng will contribute - Duke players always do. Need to resign Crawford.
8. Boston - Who knows what the fuck Ainge is doing? Apparently he's an even worse executive than he is a coach. Still, can't discount Paul Pierce - he's a true superstar.
8. Toronto - If they can avoid another injury riddled season, they could make a run. Despite being injured for a fair part of the last 2 season, Vince does have superstar talent.
West:
1. Minnesota - Best all-around player in the league (Garnett) and they're looking to be healthy this season.
2. San Antonio - 2nd best player in the league (Duncan), retained Ginobli, not any better though.
3. Houston - Best center in the West (Yao), added another superstar to the roster (McGrady), Rockets have a breakthrough year.
4. Sacramento - Same team, still not good enough.
5. Dallas - Lost Nash, wouldn't give up a non-superstar (Nowitzki) to pick up Angry Shaq, still the 2nd best high-scoring team that doesn't play any defense...behind Sacramento.
6. Denver - Strong team last season, barely missed the the playoffs in Anthony's rookie season and he's bound to improved. Just picked up K-Mart and secured themselves a playoff spot.
7/8. Los Angeles Lakers - Michael Finley is closer to Kobe Bryant than Lamar Odom is to Dirk Nowitzki. Other than that they're basically identical to Dallas. Expect less drama, but a lot less talent too. Unless they can learn to work hard every night, they're in trouble.
7/8. Memphis - Added the best role-player and top 10 +/- player (Cardinal), retained rest of roster. They may overachieve in the regular season and seed higher but I don't see them getting out of the first round. Look for them to win their first playoff game ever, though.
With Denver picking up K-Mart for basically nothing, I think Utah and Phoenix are now on the outside looking in.
out. Utah - Adding Boozer let's them move Kirilenko to SF, a position much more suited to his body and style of play. I don't see what additional moves they can make to improve their chances. They don't have much money after overpaying for Boozer.
out. Phoenix - Added Nash, still have money to sign another player (courting Q-Rich currently but expect LA Clippers to match their offer for him now that Kobe rejected them). Unless they can woo Dampier into signing (better give up on Q-Rich) they're not a playoff team.
I think Utah is probably done making off-season moves whereas Denver and Phoenix still have moves to make. Depending on the quality of those moves, they may eclipse Utah and make it a 2 team race for the 8th spot or one of them may become a clear favorite.
Clearly, there's still a lot of time for rosters to change...and that could shake some things up
edit: Hmm, I just noticed the Denver-New Jersery trade of K-Mart for 3 draft picks... need to adjust list!
1. Detroit - Still the best team in the NBA.
2. Miami - Miami took Indiana to 7 without Angry Shaq.
3. Indiana - They didn't get any better.
4-15. Who fucking cares? Eh, I guess I'll throw some names on.
4. New Jersey - Didn't really get anything for Martin, but they're still ahead of the apathetic East - now they're just further behind the legitimate East.
5. New Orleans - Can Mashburn and Davis stay healthy? Probably not, so expect them to finish lower. But if they can, they're a good team.
6. Milwaukee - They're not any better, another first round exit.
7. Philadelphia - One chucker (Iverson), no matter how talented, isn't enough.
Another Race for 8th.
8. Cleveland - They need to find a decent replacement for Boozer. It shouldn't be too hard, let's face it, LeBron is the one that made Boozer worth $68 million anyway.
8. Chicago - Curry is improving by leaps and bounds every season, expect it again. Deng will contribute - Duke players always do. Need to resign Crawford.
8. Boston - Who knows what the fuck Ainge is doing? Apparently he's an even worse executive than he is a coach. Still, can't discount Paul Pierce - he's a true superstar.
8. Toronto - If they can avoid another injury riddled season, they could make a run. Despite being injured for a fair part of the last 2 season, Vince does have superstar talent.
West:
1. Minnesota - Best all-around player in the league (Garnett) and they're looking to be healthy this season.
2. San Antonio - 2nd best player in the league (Duncan), retained Ginobli, not any better though.
3. Houston - Best center in the West (Yao), added another superstar to the roster (McGrady), Rockets have a breakthrough year.
4. Sacramento - Same team, still not good enough.
5. Dallas - Lost Nash, wouldn't give up a non-superstar (Nowitzki) to pick up Angry Shaq, still the 2nd best high-scoring team that doesn't play any defense...behind Sacramento.
6. Denver - Strong team last season, barely missed the the playoffs in Anthony's rookie season and he's bound to improved. Just picked up K-Mart and secured themselves a playoff spot.
7/8. Los Angeles Lakers - Michael Finley is closer to Kobe Bryant than Lamar Odom is to Dirk Nowitzki. Other than that they're basically identical to Dallas. Expect less drama, but a lot less talent too. Unless they can learn to work hard every night, they're in trouble.
7/8. Memphis - Added the best role-player and top 10 +/- player (Cardinal), retained rest of roster. They may overachieve in the regular season and seed higher but I don't see them getting out of the first round. Look for them to win their first playoff game ever, though.
With Denver picking up K-Mart for basically nothing, I think Utah and Phoenix are now on the outside looking in.
out. Utah - Adding Boozer let's them move Kirilenko to SF, a position much more suited to his body and style of play. I don't see what additional moves they can make to improve their chances. They don't have much money after overpaying for Boozer.
out. Phoenix - Added Nash, still have money to sign another player (courting Q-Rich currently but expect LA Clippers to match their offer for him now that Kobe rejected them). Unless they can woo Dampier into signing (better give up on Q-Rich) they're not a playoff team.
I think Utah is probably done making off-season moves whereas Denver and Phoenix still have moves to make. Depending on the quality of those moves, they may eclipse Utah and make it a 2 team race for the 8th spot or one of them may become a clear favorite.
Clearly, there's still a lot of time for rosters to change...and that could shake some things up
edit: Hmm, I just noticed the Denver-New Jersery trade of K-Mart for 3 draft picks... need to adjust list!
War pickles men in a brine of disgust and dread.
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Pherr the Dorf
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